Could Coalbed Methane Be the Death of Conservation Easements?

Abstract:     
This article describes a county's attempted termination of a perpetual conservation easement that had been conveyed to the county as a tax-deductible charitable gift. The article also describes the support for permitting such a termination only with court approval obtained in a cy pres or similar equitable judicial proceeding in which both the intent of the easement donor and the public interest and investment in the easement would be protected.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 9

Keywords: conservation easement, conservation servitude, coalbed methane, mineral development

JEL Classification: K11, K32, L3, Q15, Q24

Accepted Paper Series